John Gruber argues that established companies like Uber and Lyft will not simply cede control to AI agents, noting that entrenched stakeholders have their own interests and can slow or resist technological disruption, much like Walmart's refusal to accept Apple Pay.
The "just-say-no" engineer who blocked feature development by citing risks was a product of the zero-interest-rate policy (ZIRP) era. With cheap capital, companies tolerated slow, cautious developers. As interest rates rose, firms prioritized speed, making this archetype unviable.
The article argues that the "just-say-no" engineer archetype—who blocks projects by raising objections—was a product of the zero-interest-rate period (ZIRP), when companies had money to burn and tolerated low output. With higher interest rates and tighter budgets, engineers who slow down work are now a liability rather than a luxury.
The article argues that the "just-say-no" engineer—who rejects new projects and features to maintain software quality—was a product of the Zero Interest Rate Policy (ZIRP) era. During ZIRP, companies had ample funding to tolerate slow, quality-focused development. With higher interest rates and cost-cutting pressures, this type of engineer has become less viable in the current tech environment.
The "just-say-no" engineer who blocks all features and decisions was a product of the zero-interest-rate policy (ZIRP) era, when cheap capital allowed companies to tolerate unproductive employees. In today's higher-rate environment, that attitude is no longer viable.
The article details the complex engineering behind human breathing—diaphragm mechanics, gas exchange, and posture effects—and argues healthy respiration is often undervalued until problems arise. It warns that modern lifestyles can impair breathing efficiency.